SAMRA'S Summer Schedule

CALENDAR OF CLASSES AND EVENTS

JULY

Summer Schedule: Traditional Middle Eastern Belly Dance (Raks Sharqi) 6 week sessions. BEGINS JULY 12 (ongoing and begins each 6 weeks) $50 each both $75
Thursdays: 6:45-7:45 - Beginners (Introduction to Technique, Isolations, Toning)
7:45-8:45 - Combinations, Choreography, Introduction to Props

AUGUST – DECEMBER 2007

THURSDAY EVENINGS: Same Schedule as above.

TUESDAYS 5:00-5:45 - WORLD DANCE SAMPLER FOR ALL AGES: Hawaiian, Tahitian, African, Brazilian, Classical Persian (Similar to the exercise class, but focus will be less on exercise and more on proper technique—only 2 styles per class, rotating) $25 per month

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS: Private lessons by appointment in: Free style Latin/Brazilian (no partner), Polynesian, Middle Eastern, Turkish, Beginning Persian, and North African. $30 per hr. ($20 for each additional consecutive hour - Packages available)

LUNCHTIME MONTHLY CLASSES:
Tuesdays: 12:00-12:45 PM - ShimmyRobics (Shimmy into Shape) $25 per month
Thursday: 12:00-12:45 PM - World Dancercise ( Hawaiian, Tahitian, African, Brazilian, Bhangra, Persian) $25 per month. ($40 if doing both)

Special DanceCamp for Youth - Middle Eastern Dance Intensive
August 6-10, 10:00am-12:00
$100 includes: 10 hrs instruction, Music Cd, hip scarf and dance scarf if registered no later than 2 weeks before. $80 for late registration without the extras.

Each day will begin with a warm-up and end with a cool down. All classes will contain cultural information about the dances.

Day 1 – Posture, Alignment, Isolations, Rhythmic Walks, Basic steps and arm positions
Day 2 - Muscular control of movements, Shimmies of hip and shoulders, Start choregraphy to a POP Arabic song.
Day 3 - Steps and Turns, Drill of previous material, Introduction to dance with scarf, Middle of choreography
Day 4 - A Lebanese Folk Dance to warm-up, Review all of the above and complete the choreography
Day 5 - Review all material and refine the choreography. Presentation of Certificates.

Performance of the choreography will be presented at a place TBA. (optional)

SPECIAL SATURDAYS WITH SAMRA

MINI- WORKSHOP SERIES ON SATURDAYS - 2:00-4:00. Please, see dates and topics. Each workshop $30 at the door, $25 if paid no later than 2 weeks prior. Teachers submitting advanced registration with 6 students in one transaction receives complimentary pass. Purchase 4 workshops for a total of $80!!!! Pre-registration recommended. Notes provided. Bring water, and lots of positive energy!
All wokshops include warm-up, cool down and a fun interactive activity to reinforce the topic.

8/4/07 - “SHAKE IT WITH RHYTHM” - Combinations to 8 popular Middle Eastern Song Rhythms: Beledi, Maksum, Saidi, Masmoudi, Ayub, Malfuf, Felahi and Karachi.

9/8/07 - “ADD RHYTHM TO YOUR SHAKE” - Fear-Free Finger Cymbals Fiddling. Combinations to various style of music and for making your own music. Your finger cymbals and you will become best friends and dance partners! Guaranteed FUN.

TO BE CONTINUED WITH MORE EXCITING EVENTS AND GUEST INSTRUCTORS!!!! Keep checking for updates.

Samra and the Lotus Dance Retreat

Samra and the Lotus Dance Retreat: A Materialized Dream of Global Sisterhood in Dance.
Posted by Samra: http://www.samrasexpressions.com/ stephip1234@yahoo.com

Like the Lotus Flower that reopens each morning as a symbol of rebirth, the Lotus Dance Retreat will return next year. Mark your calendars for March 22-30 to be in Bali, Indonesia. Again we will “Dance Like a Goddess in the Island of the Gods.”

It all started as an intriguing dream of mine to belly dance in Bali. Since I visited Bali in the Fall of 2005, I couldn’t wait to return. As time passed I became focused on the possibility of combining my desire to return to Bali, my love of dancing, and my wish to share the experience with fellow dancers from around the world.

Thus the vision for Lotus Dance Retreat was born. Then came the reality: How can one organize an event on the other side of the globe without knowing anyone? The answer came through the internet. After contacting everyone with a published email address who lived in Bali, I got emails from transient dance teachers in Bali, later from Meg of Balispirit who provided the email address for Allison Mulroy, who recommended her dance teacher at the time, Rebecca Kaal. My time frame for availability was March. From the time I contacted Alli, to the time that I got an agreement from Rebecca to help me with this venture about 5 months had elapsed. It was now November.

Rebecca and Alli worked intensively trying to work as many arrangements as possible, and by the time we even had a hotel lined up was December. That gave us only three months. For most people, one year at least is needed to organize an event like this. But knowing that one must learn from experience, we all decided to embark in this venture, keeping it open to possibilities. We hoped that other spontaneous spirited dancers would join us. And they did.

The Lotus Dance Retreat 2007 was not offered as a package, because I wanted the participants to choose the activities according to their interests and their budgets. Even for the classes, one could sign up for all the classes, or show up for single classes. The classes welcomed international and local participants. Our support staff consisted of our local resident organizers, Rebecca and Alli, and the instructing staff included besides me (Samra) Joyce Stech from the USA and Siri Ydstie from Norway, in addition to a native Balinese dance instructor and a resident Yoga instructor. Our participants consisted of an amazing group of women from various corners of the world.

The week went by incredibly fast. We had a very intensive class schedule, and some participants did not miss a single class!! 26 hours in one week. Additionally, we performed at 2 shows, attended evening events, and we went for our farewell dinner party at a fabulous seafood restaurant at Jimbaran Beach. Not only was the food delicious, but we were entertained by a local band singing their renditions of “golden oldies” from the USA and UK as well as Guantanamera and Besame Mucho… This was right on the beach, with our feet on Balinese sand, after seeing the end of a gorgeous sunset. What else could anyone want at a moment like this? It was perfect.


During the week participants engaged sightseeing tours, a Balinese cooking class including a trip to the market, snorkeling, motorbike riding, soaking up the sun and cool water in swimming pools or the ocean, horseback riding, and enjoying the soothing power of massages and spa treatments. Since some of our classes were held at a glassed in location where the hotel employees could see us, we become instant “hits”. The word spread fast and every hotel staff member would smile and most would shake their shoulders or hips when they saw someone in our group. It was very endearing, actually!

Our dynamic travel agent/consultant/resource person, Yani of Bali Traveling became quickly a member of our family and became available for us 24 hrs a day to answer any question and tackle any problem that could arise. I wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone wanting to visit Bali and want someone to become a sister/daughter during their visit.

Besides all the exciting things that happened in the Legian beach area, one of the highlights was an amazing trip to Rebecca Kaal’s mountain retreat, where she hosted a Balinese feast for us, complete with a band of local musicians playing their version of danceable tribalish drum rhythms… The evening was splendid and memorable. Rebecca’s family and neighbors were gracious hosts.

So much happened! It would not be true to say that everything went without glitches. A first time event is always a time of learning and exploring. But in the end, the positive prevailed and the proof is we are ready to return next year. Wiser, better organized, and ready to offer the participants one of the best weeks in their life. Full of dance, pampering, friendship, and the magic of Bali itself. Mark your calendars for March 22-30, 2008 and visit these sited frequently for more information to be posted soon about next year’s LOTUS DANCE RETREAT 2008. Treat yourself to the magical experience of Bali and Dance Like a Goddess in the Island of the Gods.

http://www.samrasexpressions.com/
http://www.resourcesunlimited1.com/
http://www.1001natt.com/